Peel back a store sign in the modern city, and it’s possible that a sign behind it, from a rougher, earlier New York, will reveal itself.
That’s what happened on Delancey and Essex Streets recently.
The glossy billboard advertising this sneaker and jeans store vanished (removed by the owners, or blown off by recent storms?) and a much older version reappeared—with a very sweet clock to boot!
An even cooler glimpse of a different Manhattan can be seen behind the green awning for this deli on Grand and Lewis Streets.
Take a peek underneath, and the old-school sign for a corner magazine and card store (with an ice cream fountain!) makes an appearance.
Tags: Delancey Street photo, Grand Street photo, New York store signs, old deli signs, Signs hiding behind signs, store signs Lower East Side, store signs New York City, vintage store signs New York
Ephemeral New York 
February 20, 2013 at 3:01 am |
How do you keep finding these hidden gems?
February 20, 2013 at 3:35 am |
Funny, that is the way I remember it (the sneaker and jean place) as I passed it on Delancey many, many times.
February 20, 2013 at 4:05 pm |
I don’t know how long it’s been exposed like that . . . there’s a billboard covering it up on Google Maps:
https://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&q=160+delancey+street+nyc+sneakers+jeans&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
February 20, 2013 at 4:46 am |
I thought the term was ‘soda fountain’. Just sayin’. Love the site, keep up the good work!
February 20, 2013 at 3:26 pm |
I was thinking Ice Cream Soda Fountain!